The center — extensively damaged by June 12 flooding — received $15,000, according to an Alliant press release.

The program was established to provide unrestricted grants to help non-profit groups throughout Alliant Energy's utility service territory with recovery from this summer's flooding, according to the release.

On June 12, the Solutions Center had to evacuate its women's shelter as floodwaters poured into the building. Five feet of water ultimately occupied the shelter's basement and destroyed washers and dryers, the group's food pantry and the children's play area.

Clients were displaced from the women's shelter for 10 days.

The group's office area was not spared either with nearly four feet of water occupying it at the peak of the flooding and damaging everything in its path. Computers, furniture, cubicle dividers and files were among the casualties of the water. For a week, the administrative office was not functional and then it had to be temporarily moved with hopes to be back in service at the original location by the end of August.

"The flooding of our women's shelter and administrative offices has posed a major challenge to our operations," said Ron Jacobson, the Center's executive director. "We appreciate the grant from the Alliant Energy Foundation as well as the support we have received from other groups in our time of need."

Solutions Center offers programs that provide women with support throughout the complex process of leaving violent relationships and building safe futures. For survivors of domestic violence, the Solutions Center offers services that help them and their children move toward safe and independent violence-free lives. In addition, the center provides a wide range of resources to the homeless to guide them back to a place of independence.

"It is critical to have services available for victims of domestic violence and homelessness in Fond du Lac County, and the Alliant Energy Foundation is pleased to support the Solutions Center as it works to get back on its feet," said Marthea Fox, Alliant Energy Foundation executive director. "The flooding directly impacted many groups throughout the state that meet local human service needs and we want to make sure these organizations continue to be available into the future."

The Alliant Energy Foundation's Rebuilding Our Communities Grant Program was created in response to the extensive flooding across Alliant Energy's utility service territory in Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota. The Foundation has allocated $1 million for the program. Non-profit groups can apply through Oct. 1 for $5,000, $10,000, $15,000 or $20,000 unrestricted flood recovery grants. Funds are to be used to help non-profits resume or maintain operations.

Over the past 10 years, the Alliant Energy Foundation has contributed more than $26 million across the Alliant Energy utility service territory to projects and organizations through a variety of programs and worthwhile initiatives.

To learn more about the Foundation and its Rebuilding Our Communities Grant Program, visit www.alliantenergy.com/foundation; or request an application from the Foundation office by calling (608) 458-4483.